Kenneth W. Nelson and James P. Morgan, Industrial Hygiene Survey of Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation, Chickasaw, Alabama (1944)

A 15-page industrial hygiene survey of the Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation yard at Chickasaw, Alabama, made on March 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29, 1944, by Lieutenants Kenneth W. Nelson and James P. Morgan, regional health consultants to the U.S. Maritime Commission. The yard had about 9,590 workers building destroyers, minesweepers and cargo ships. The survey covers washrooms, respirators, eye injuries, red lead, welding fumes and ventilation, and in the pipe-covering shop, where amosite and asbestos cloth were handled, it warns that "Prolonged inhalation of asbestos dust may result in a disabling lung condition known as asbestosis."

What it shows

The shop air was not especially dusty on the day of the visit, but "workmen reported that conditions became very bad at times," and the dust built up on wiring and beams "bore out their statement." The surveyors recommended working the materials wet, giving the men sprinkler bottles and keeping debris from piling up, but did not call for exhaust ventilation or respirators in the pipe-covering shop. Elsewhere they found respirators poorly cleaned before reissue, and noted that eye injuries made up about half of all first-aid cases.